Ghost Rings and Shotgun Beads?

Question

What exactly are Ghost Ring sights for? I thought that a shotgun was pointed and not aimed.

& how come only "police" style shotguns usually have ghost rings?

Thank You

Answer 1

Ghost Rings are generally used on tactical shotguns, makes aiming and placing slugs easier.

Answer 2

All shotguns have to be aimed.... People get the idea that you just point and spray from Hollywood movies... The ghost rings are used in tactical application to assist in hitting a target at close range.... Doesnt matter if you are using buckshot or slugs, if you are not aimed at the target you will miss...... The bead sight is general used for longer distance shots like trap / skeet shooting or duck hunting......

An example of a Mossberg 590 Military shotgun with ghost ring sights...

http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg_...

A regular hunting shotgun with bead sights --

http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg_...

ghost rings would be useless when trying to get a duck coming in.... Hunting loads have several small pellets that pattern....

Answer 3

I believe they use a closer spread pattern for there shot, either in the rifling or the shot itself, helps them aim at ther target,

Answer 4

Shotguns are very versitile weapons.

They can be used with different sized shot with a smooth bore for many hunting applications. Usually in this style the shotguns barrel just has a bead at the end of the barrel for swinging the barrell to lead a moving target.

They can also be used with a rifled barrel with "slugs" or sabot rounds. This lends itself more towards using the shotgun in the style of a rifle. Some shotgunners prefer a more accurate sight picture when hunting with slugs and use sights like that of a rifle (iron sights, red dot, scope, etc.)

Some tactical shotgun configurations use some more modern style sights, like the "ghost ring" set-up. See the center mass of your target through the ring...and blam-o.

Hope that helps.